Automatic controlling apparatus for lighting systems.



M. G. COWPER-SMITH. AUTOMATIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR LIGHTINGSYSTEMS.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT.20, 1909. 972,752,

Patented Oct. 11,1910

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MERVYN G. COWPER-SMITI-I,

OF TORONTO,

ONTARIO, CANADA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

Application filed September 20, 1909. Serial No. 518,633.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MERVYN G. Cowrna- SMITH, of the city of Toronto, inthe Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Automatic Controlling Apparatus for Lighting Systems, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means whereby illuminating devices at variousdistant points may be lighted and extinguished from a central station bya temporary increase in the pressure of an elastic fluid in a mainextending from the central station to the said illuminating devices.

I accomplish my object by utilizing the electric fluid pressure in amain to lift a diaphragm which carries a swinging lever and tumbler,which cooperate with a slotted plate and pins thereon to hold thediaphragm consecutively in a plurality of positions at different heightsfollowing consecutive impulses in the fluid pressure. The position ofthe diaphragm determines the opening or closing of a valve controllingthe flow of gas to a burner or the making or breaking of an electriccontact. Means are provided to insure a difference of pressure betweenopposite sides of the diaphragm and means are also preferably providedwhereby the pressure below the diaphragm is normally below the pressurein the main but rises at once to the pressure in the main when thelatter is raised sufliciently above its normal.

Figure l is a vertical section of my improved controller. Figs. 2 t0 4are detailed views showing various positions of the simplest form of thecontrolling parts. Figs. 5 to 12 are similar views showing variouspositions of an elaborated form of the con trolling devices. Fig. 13 isa view similar to Fig. 1 showing the device as used to control anelectric lighting circuit. Fig. 1a is a detail of the joint between thetumbler and arm.

A is a chamber divided into two parts B and C by a flexible diaphragm D.Between the two chambers there is, however, a communication formedthrough the opening E. This opening is controlled by a pressureregulating valve F. This may be of any ordinary type and requires nodetailed description. As the device is intended to operate by anincrease of pressure in the main this regulating valve is intended toprevent the angle being uppermost.

this increase of pressure at once equalizing between the parts B and Cof the chamber. When the regulating valve is employed a difference ofpotential is obtained sutlieient to lift the diaphragm and operatethe'work ing parts, as hereinafter described. As the pressure in themain conveying the elastic fluid is normally greater than that requiredat the burners, I also provide the inlet G into the lower part C of thechamber with a pressure regulating valve H which is of the ordinary lifttype and provided with the apertures a around its stem through which theelastic fluid may pass. The weight of this valve and the size of itspassages will be so regulated as to give the necessary reduction inpressure between the main and the chamber. A by-pass is, however,provided preferably by forming an opening 6 of some considerable sizethrough the center of the valve H. This opening is controlled by a ball0.

hen the abnormal increase of pressure hereinbefore referred to isproduced in the main, the pressure regulating valve H will rise andcontact with the seat d above it, and the gas supply around the valve iscut off. The abnormal pressure, however, will be sutiicient to lift theball 0 and the full pressure from the main will be admitted to the lowerpart C of the chamber, and as this pressure is prevented by theregulating valve F from equalizing between the upper and lower chamberspractically the full abnormal pressure in the main is available tooperate the movable parts hereinafter de-' scribed.

Pivoted cent-rally to the flexible diaphragm is an arm I having at itsupper end a pin J. This pin is adapted to move in a slot K, formed in asuitably supported plate L. This slot K is of substantially an L-shape,This angle, however, is preferably rounded off as shown. One end of theslot is formed higher than the other so as to give two positions of restfor the pin J, one higher than the other. 'lhisdiflerence of height isutilized to operate a cut-off device in the following man ner. Dependingfrom the under side of the diaphragm D is a pin M. This pin is pivotallyconnected to one end of a lever N fulcrumed at e on a stationary part ofthe apparatus. To the other end of the lever is suitably connected a pin0 adapted to contact with the under side of a ball 7 normally tending toseat itself at the upper end of the opening g formed in the tube Pleading to the pressure regulating valve F. When the pin J is in thehigher end it of the slot, the pin 0 is out of contact with the ball 7and the communication between the parts B and C of the chamber is cutoff. hen the pin is in the lower end 2' of the slot the pin 0 contactswith the ball. The ball 0 thus forms a cut-off device by means of whichthe supply of gas to a burner or burners may be out 01f as desired.

If the pressure of the elastic fluid is used to control an electriclighting system, the pin M may be connected with an electric wire and amercury cup Q, or other contact device provided, which is connected withanother electric wire. The insertion or withdrawal of the pin in themercury can be thus utilized to make or break the electric circuit.

The arm I with its pin J is caused to assume alternately the positionsshown in Figs. 2 and dby the following mechanism: On the upper end ofthe arm is pivoted the tumbler R. The jointbetween the tumbler and thearm is so constructed that the tumbler will have a limited swing only ineither direction, and in Fig. 1A I show an arrangement for this purpose.Two shoulders j are formed either on the tumbler or the arm and a pin onthe other part is adapted to play between the shoulders, the limits ofthe movement being determined by the position of the shoulders.

Adjacent to the end it of the slot is a pin Z, and adjacent to the lowerend 2' of the slot is a pin m. The tumbler is preferably provided withshoulders n adapted to engage these pins.

The operation of the device as described is as follows: When thediaphragm is in a raised position and the cut-off closed the arm I isinclined toward the left and the tumbler toward the right engaging withone of its shoulders at the pin Z. An increase of pressure below thediaphragm causes the latter to lift and raise the parts to the positionshown in Fig. 8. As the diaphragm descends when the pressure falls againthe weight of the tumbler tends to cause the pin J to move on down thelong arm of the slot instead of returning to its initial position.Before the pin reaches the end i of the slot the right hand shoulder non the tumbler has engaged the pin on and the tumbler is tilted over, asshown in Fig. 4. Another rise and fall of the diaphragm will in asimilar manner cause the parts to reassume the position shown in Fig. 3.

As it is frequently necessary to extinguish certain lamps or groups oflamps at an early hour, while others are not extinguished till a laterhour, it will usually be necessary to employ a somewhat more complexarrangement. An arrangement of the parts for this purpose is shown inFigs. 5 to 11 of the drawings. The L-shaped slot remains the same but isprovided between its ends wit-h a central depression 0, the bottom ofwhich is intermediate in height the bottoms of the ends of the slot. Asit is necessary to guide the pin J sem'atim to the three positionsrepresented by the ends of the slot and the central. depression it isnecessary to further provide a pin p with which the end of the tumblermay engage, as shown in Fig. 6, when the pin J rises from the end it ofthe slot to the highest point in the slot. \Vhen the pin descends itwill be guided into the central depression, but before the pin reachesthe bottom of the depression the end of the tumbler will have passed thepin 10, so that on the next rise and fall of the arm through the actionof the diaphragm the pin and arm will assume the position shown in Fig.10. The return movement from the right hand to the left hand end of theslot is as in the construction shown in Figs. 2 to 4. An intermediatestage of this movement is shown in Fig. 11.

I'Vith the arrangement of slot just described there are two oifpositions and one on position. In Fig. 12 I show a slot in which theends are level with one another. This will give two on positions and oneoff posit-ion. Lamps which are to be extinguished early have theircontrollers arranged as shown in Figs. 5 to 11: those which are to beextinguished later have their controllers arranged as shown in Fig. 12.Thus presuming the lamps to be alight the pins J will be in the righthand ends of the slots, a rise and fall of pressure will move them tothe left hand ends of the slots. In one set of lamps, as this end ishigh, the lamps will be extinguished: in the other set the end is lowand the lamps will remain alight. The next rise and fall of pressurewill move the pins J to the central depressions which in each case arehigh and hence the early extinguished lamps remain out while the burninglamps are extinguished. Another rise and fall of pressure returns themto the original position in which all the lamps are alight.

It will be understood, of course, that in systems such as describedpilot lights are maintained in connection with each burner, so that thelamps light up immediately the supply of gas is turned on. It will alsobe understood that any of the well known equivalents for the flexiblediaphragm may be employed. The outlet S from the chamber B will inpractice be connected with a gas burner or group of burners.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In apparatus for controllingilluminating devices the combination of a movable diaphragm; a cut-offdevice movable thereby; a pivoted arm movable by the diaphragm; a platehaving a slot therein with which the arm engages adapted to guide thearm to, and support it in, a plurality of positions at differentheights; a tumbler pivoted on the arm; and stationary means with whichthe tumbler co-acts to determine the position relative to the slottoward which the arm moves when actuated by the diaphragm.

2. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices the combination ofa movable diaphragm; a cut-otf device movable thereby; a pivoted armmovable by the diaphragm; a plate having a slot therein with which thearm engages adapted to guide the arm to, and support it in, a pluralityof positions at different heights; and means whereby the arm is directedto assume s'crz'atz'm each of said positions when alternately raised andlowered by the diaphragm.

3. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices the combination ofa movable diaphragm; a cut-off device movable there by; a pivoted armmovable by the diaphragm; and a plate having a slot therein with whichthe arm engages adapted to guide the arm to, and support it in, aplurality of positions at different heights.

I. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices the combination ofa movable diaphragm; a cut-off device movable thereby; a pivoted armmovable with the dia phragm; a pin on said arm; a plate having anL-shaped slot therein in which the pin may move, one end of the slotbeing lower than the other; a tumbler pivoted on the arm; means limitingthe swing of the tumbler on the arm; and means adjacent each end of theslot for tilting the tumbler on the arm.

5. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices the combination ofa movable diaphragm; a cut-oit device movable thereby; a pivoted armmovable with the diaphragm; a pin on said arm; a plate having anL-shaped slot therein in which the pin may move, one end of the slotbeing lower than the other; a tumbler pivoted on the arm and having ashoulder formed thereon at each side; means limiting the swing of thetumbler on the arm; and pins adjacent the ends of the slots with whichthe aforesaid shoulders may engage.

6. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices the combination ofa movable diaphragm; a cut-01f device movable thereby; a pivoted armmovable with the dia phragm; a pin on said arm; a plate having anL-shaped slot formed therein with the angle upward and in which the pinmay move, the slot being provided with a depression intermediate theends; a tumbler pivoted on the arm; means limiting the swing of thetumbler on the arm; and three pins on the plate with which the tumblercoacts placed on the plate to cause the tumbler to direct the arm tocause the pin to assume sericzitim an end position, a position in thecentral depression and a position in the other end and to thenrecommence the series when the arm is alternately raised and lowered bythe diaphragm.

7. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices the combination ofa movable diaphragm; a cut-oil device movable there by; a pivoted armmovable by the diaphragm; a tumbler pivoted on the arm; means limitingthe swing of the tumbler on the arm; and means co-acting with thetumbler and arm to cause the latter to take up by the rise and fall ofthe diaphragm a plurality of positions determining the opening orclosing of the cut-oil.

8. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices a chamber dividedinto two compartments one provided with a gas inlet to receive gas froma main and the other with a gas outlet to discharge gas to a burner; amovable diaphragm exposed at one side to one compartment and at theother side to the other compartment; :1 pressure regulat ing valvebetween the two compartments independent of the diaphragm; a cut-oii'device; and means operable by the rise and fall of the diaphragm foroperating said device.

9. In apparatus for controlling illuminating devices a chamber dividedinto two compartments, one provided with an inlet to receive gas from amain and the other with an outlet to discharge gas to a burner; apressure regulating valve controlling the inlet and provided with aby-pass; a weighted valve normally closing the by-pass; a movablediaphragm exposed at one side to the other compartment; a pressureregulating valve between the two compartments independent of thediaphragm; a cut-oil device; and means operable by the rise and fall ofthe diaphragm for operating said device.

Dated, this 16th day of September 1909, Toronto Canada.

MERVYN G. COWPER-SMITH.

Signed in the presence of JOHN G. Rmou'r, A. CAMPBELL.

